[42] Assy, who first became publicly known as the leader of the strike
at Messrs. Schneider’s works at Creuzot, was an engineer. He was born
in 1840. He became a member of the International Society, and was
selected in 1870 to organise the Creuzot strike. Being threatened with
arrest, he went to Paris, but did not remain there long, and on the
21st of March in that year, a few days after his return to Creuzot,
the strike of the miners commenced. Assy was, finally, arrested and
tried before the Correctional Tribune of Paris as chief and founder of
a secret society, but he was acquitted of that charge.
At the siege of Paris, Assy was appointed as an officer in a free
guerilla corps of the Isle of France. Subsequently he was a
lieutenant in the 192nd battalion of the National Guard. Getting on
the Central Committee, he took an active share in the events that
occurred. Appointed commander of the 67th battalion on the 17th
March, we find him on the morning of the 18th as Governor of the
Hôtel de Ville, and colonel of the National Guard, organising with
the members of the committee the means of a serious
resistance—giving orders for the construction of
barricades—stopping the transport of munitions and provisions from
Paris. Becoming a member of the Commune, he took an active part in
carrying into effect the decrees which led, among other things, to
the demolition of the Vendôme Column and of the house of M. Thiers.
He was arrested in April, and was succeeded as Governor of the
Hôtel de Ville by one Pindy, who retained the office till the army
entered Paris. Assy was held prisoner, _sur parole_, at the Hôtel
de Ville, till the 19th April, when he was liberated. After this
Assy was engaged in superintending the manufacture of munitions of
war. He was the sole superintendent of the supply, especially as
regards quality. Among the warlike stores manufactured were
incendiary shells filled with petroleum, intended to be thrown into
Paris during the insurrection. It is certain that these engines of
destruction could only have been made at the factory superintended
by Assi. He was arrested on the 21st May. Assy was one of the
chiefs of the insurrection; he denied signing the decrees for the
execution of the hostages, or order for the enrolment of the
military in the National Guard. Assy was condemned by the tribunal
of Versailles, Sept. 2, to confinement for life in a French
fortress—a light penalty for the deeds of this important insurgent.
[43] Memoir, see Appendix 5.
[Illustration: General Cluseret.]